When the news of the closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) broke earlier this year, the future of the Avro Vulcan XH558 currently stored there became uncertain. Fans of the aircraft are hoping that it can be successfully relocated now that the airport has ceased operations, although the deadline for doing so of June 2023 is fast approaching.

The military aircraft, named The Spirit of Great Britain, made its final ground engine run on November 20th. According to local newspaper The Yorkshire Post, hundreds of spectators gathered to witness the event, during which the fighter jet was honored with a water cannon salute.

Sunday’s engine run may well have been the last opportunity for enthusiasts to hear the aircraft’s distinctive high-pitched roar, although the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, which restored the Avro Vulcan XH558 to its former glory in 2007, is still hopeful that there will be at least one further engine run before June 2023.

When contacted by Simple Flying, the Trust declared that since February, it has been working on finding a potential site for the aircraft to be stored and displayed for decades to come, keeping true to its motto of “honoring the past, inspiring the future.” In a statement, the Trust said,

“We now have two potential locations in negotiation and we are in conversation with The National Heritage Lottery Fund on an options appraisal to ensure we ultimately deliver the best future for this important…